View source for Becky Zerlentes

{{short description|American boxer}}
{{Infobox Boxer
| image =
| name = Becky Zerlentes
| realname = Becky Zerlentes
| nickname =
| weight = [[Lightweight]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1970|7|8}}
| birth_place =  [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|4|3|1970|7|8}}
| death_place =  [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], U.S.
| home =
| style =
| total =
| wins =
| KO =
| losses =
| draws =
| no contests =
}}
'''Becky Zerlentes''' (July 8, 1970 – April 3, 2005) was a professor of geography, amateur [[Boxing|boxer]], and [[martial artist]].
==Personal life==
Zerlentes was a professor of geography and economics at [[Front Range Community College]]'s [[Larimer County]] campus.  Zerlentes earned her master's and PhD in geography at the [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]].<ref name="womenboxing.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.womenboxing.com/zerlentesbecky.htm|title=WOMEN'S BOXING - News Story on WBAN!|publisher=|access-date=4 February 2016}}</ref>  She had a wide variety of interests, including [[martial arts]], [[boxing]], [[synchronized swimming]], [[ice skating]], and academic pursuits.  She was married to fellow economics professor, Dr. Stephan Weiler.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/06/sports/othersports/06boxing.html|title=Comeback Bout Leads To Female Boxer's Death|date=6 April 2005|work=The New York Times|access-date=4 February 2016}}</ref>
==Martial arts accomplishments==
Zerlentes was a black belt in Goshin Jitsu, which she earned in 1996.  She often told her students that she started training with Goshin Jitsu after coming to one of the club parties.  She later became the chief instructor of the club from 1998 to 1999.  Zerlentes also earned a black belt in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu and was certified in Okazaki restorative massage.  Zerlentes enjoyed teaching, particularly self-defense, something she believed was critical for women to learn.<ref name="goshinjitsu.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.goshinjitsu.org/home/history/ak#TOC-Becky-Zerlentes-1971-2005-|title=Alumni Instructors - Goshin Jitsu|publisher=|access-date=4 February 2016}}</ref>
==Amateur boxing career==
Zerlentes had a record of 6 wins and 4 losses.  She won a regional [[Golden Gloves]] in 2002.<ref name="womenboxing.com"/>
==Death==
{{Wikinews|First female boxing death occurs in US sanctioned match}}
On April 2, 2005 Zerlentes was participating in the Colorado State Boxing Senior Female Championships at the [[Denver Coliseum]] in [[Denver, Colorado]].  She was [[knockout|knocked out]] in the third round by her opponent, Heather Schmitz, fell unconscious, and never regained consciousness.  Zerlentes is the first woman known to have died of injuries sustained during a sanctioned boxing match in the [[United States]]. According to the [[Denver County]] [[coroner]] the cause of death was [[blunt force trauma]] to the head.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/apr/06/usa.boxing|title=Punch kills woman boxer|date=6 April 2005|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zerlentes, Becky}}
[[Category:Boxers from Colorado]]
[[Category:Deaths due to injuries sustained in boxing]]
[[Category:American women boxers]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:Sports deaths in Colorado]]
[[Category:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni]]
[[Category:Lightweight boxers]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportswomen]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportswomen]]
{{US-boxing-bio-stub}}